Some Of My Athlete's Are Faster Than Me
Some Of My Athlete's Are Faster Than Me
Why Speed Doesn’t Define a My Coaching Credibility
Why Speed Doesn’t Define a My Coaching Credibility
Coach Janelle
Embedded Files
Guess what?
I’m not a fast runner.
And you know what else?
I don’t care.
When I First Started Coaching…
When I First Started Coaching…
When I first started coaching, I felt this pressure. Most of the coaches I’d had before were fast. Like, really fast. One of them even ran as an elite. So I thought:
“Who’s going to hire me if I’m not fast enough?”
I’d find myself making excuses for my pace.
“Oh, I’m just running for fun", “I’m taking it easy today", "It's just a training run".
It was like I had to justify why I wasn’t cranking out PBs every weekend or race.
The Truth About Coaching and Speed
The Truth About Coaching and Speed
Here’s the thing… being a good coach has absolutely nothing to do with how fast you can run.
Do you think Eliud Kipchoge’s coach can outrun him? Don’t think so. And yet, look at what he’s accomplished.
The fact that some of my athletes are faster than me, or have gotten faster while working with me; says a lot more about my coaching than my personal race results ever could.
When My Athletes Got Faster Than Me
When My Athletes Got Faster Than Me
There was a time when comparing myself to my athletes stung a little. Like, how could I coach someone who runs faster than me?
But now? I love it.
It’s fun. It’s motivating. And it’s the best evidence of what I do as a coach. Their growth, their breakthroughs, their race results… that’s the real success story!
Chasing Times Burned Me Out
Chasing Times Burned Me Out
I used to be obsessed with paces and PBs.
I thought being a “real runner” meant hitting certain times, running certain “easy” paces, and proving myself with numbers.
It left me burned out. Mentally and physically.
Back then I really wish I had someone in my corder to tell me that easy pace isn’t a number. It changes daily depending on your fatigue, your training volume, your stress levels, even your life outside running.
Now, as a coach, I get to help my athletes avoid that same cycle of burnout. I prioritize the whole runner: mental health, stress, recovery, joy. Not just paces on a watch.
So What Actually Makes a Good Coach?
So What Actually Makes a Good Coach?
Not speed!
A good coach:
Listens to their athletes
Builds training that flexes with life
Helps them navigate setbacks, injuries, and burnout
Guides them through fuelling, gear, race strategy, and mindset
Celebrates progress in all its forms
Because not all progress is a faster time. Sometimes it’s bouncing back quicker after a hard effort. Sometimes it’s finding joy again after burnout. Sometimes it’s finishing a long run with a smile instead of tears.
Why I Don’t Care
Why I Don’t Care
So no, I’m not the fastest runner. I’ve had faster days (my half marathon PB is 1:44, but I’m not there anymore). But speed doesn’t define me. It doesn’t define my athletes. And it definitely doesn’t define me as a coach.
What does?
The ability to guide, support, adapt, and help athletes become the best versions of themselves. That’s coaching! Not how quickly you cross the finish line.
If you’re a runner who feels “too slow”, or a coach who thinks you’re “not fast enough”; hear me out:
Being fast doesn’t make you credible. Showing up, listening, and helping others grow does.
And if some of your athletes end up outrunning you? Celebrate it. That’s the point.
So yeah, I don’t care that I’m not a fast runner. Because coaching isn’t about speed. It’s about people. And that’s where I know I shine.
Want to read more about mindset and running?
Check out my last post: Why I Don’t Care That I DNF’d (Twice).
Google Sites
Report abuse